April 2011: Psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians, social workers, professors, counselors, and other professionals from mental health, medical, and related fields traveled from 18 states and 8 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Peru, and United Arab Emirates. Pictured above-left, Dr. Aaron T. Beck conducts a roleplay with Ricardo Luiz Malina Losso, a psychiatrist from Brazil, to demonstrate useful techniques to use for challenging problems when working with patients. Dr. Beck also conducted a live patient session that was viewed (via closed-circuit television) by participants in the April 4 – 6, 2011, Cognitive Behavior Therapy Workshop Level I at Beck Institute.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Treatment Plan

Following the patient interview Dr. Beck answered questions from participants in a case discussion (pictured below), during which he explained what the next session should include (see video clip here). Dr. Beck explained agenda setting, beginning with a review of homework and went on to explain that he asks patients, “What problems do you want my help in solving today?” to guide them into naming the problems (as opposed to giving a full description at that moment), then prioritize the problems and let him know roughly about how much of the session they’d like to devote to each one.

(Right) Dr. Judith Beck conducts a roleplay with David Black, a psychologist from Missouri. Dr. Beck discussed how to differentiate between practical and psychological problems, and how to use a cognitive framework to understand why psychological problems arise. Participants received professional training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy from Aaron T. Beck, M.D., Judith S. Beck, Ph.D., Leslie Sokol, Ph.D., and Norman Cotterell, Ph.D. Trainees participated in seminars and case discussions, reviewed videos of therapy sessions, observed

and engaged in demonstration roleplays among other activities. More event highlights: